From Lessons to Leadership: Cade Klubnik Reflects on Last Season and Prepares for Georgia
Clemson junior quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 63.9 percent of his 454 passes for 2,844 yards with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. The Austin, TX native was in his first year as a starter and under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley's air raid system.
The Tigers fell 7-28 to Duke on the road last September and face another tough opener on Saturday in Atlanta, GA against No. 1 Georgia.
Klubnik discussed the upcoming top 15 matchup with the Bulldogs on Wednesday:
On the confidence among the offense:
"I think we've had a great energy to us all year, and especially this fall camp and the summer. So I think we're a really tight group, and it's fun to come back and play another season with a lot of guys that I've already played with. So, just really excited. I think we've had a great fall camp. And I think there's a great pulse to us, for sure."
On how he feels he's grown as a leader from year one to year two as a starter:
"Honestly, I feel like I have a deeper and more meaningful relationship with my teammates. I think that quality relationships take time, and obviously, being here for my third year now, relationships will naturally grow deeper and deeper. So I feel like the relationship that I have with the guys up front -- my ability to go approach them and talk about stuff that might be uncomfortable at times, when things are going good or things are going bad. I kind of feel like that with those five for sure. But also just kind of with the whole team in general."
On opening the season against the No 1 team in the country:
"Georgia is an incredible opponent. Definitely a huge honor for us to be able to face such a great team like that in the opener. Coach Swinney kind of spoke on it yesterday and said, 'Hey, there's teams all around the country that are working their butt off for 12 weeks straight to go play a team like this in the playoffs. We get to start out with them in a regular season game.' So to have that right out of the gate is huge and definitely just a great way to kind of start off the season."
On lessons that can be taken from last season's opening loss to Duke:
"I think just having a great mentality during fall camp and finishing. I think we finished really well in fall camp. And coming out, hot and fiery. I think that's gonna be good. But obviously, there's a lot of lessons from that game. We didn't play a great game honestly, last year. So being the best us we can be, and just take care of the little things."
On facing a Georgia defense that is expected to be one of the best overall in college football:
"They've got a great defense. A lot of guys are going to go play next level for a while. And it's exciting. I think we've got great guys on our defense that are preparing us every single day that when we show up, we'll be ready for that. They've got a lot of great talent over there, and it'll definitely be an exciting matchup."